Kaplan Launches Metis Bootcamps in New York City to Train Aspiring Data Scientists and Product Designers

New Bootcamps Expand Kaplan’s Metis Brand of New Economy Skills Training
Programs to Teach Competencies in High Demand in Today’s Job Market

New York, NY (June 9, 2014) – Education giant Kaplan is strengthening its place in the expanding market of technology bootcamps with the launch of two new programs this summer: one for aspiring data scientists and one for aspiring product designers. Both bootcamps will operate under Kaplan’s new Metis brand of intensive learning programs, launched in 2013 to provide new economy skills training (NEST) in competencies that are in high demand in today’s job market. Both programs will run for 12 weeks, beginning in mid-August, and take place in WeWork’s recently-opened NoMad facility at 79 Madison Avenue, in the Flatiron district, in the heart of New York City. The hands-on experiential classrooms will be fully integrated into WeWork’s community for creators. WeWork builds environments where individual pursuit and collaboration collide, aligning with Kaplan’s new endeavor.

Metis’ data science bootcamp will be taught by expert practitioners from Chicago-based Datascope Analytics. The curriculum combines Datascope’s industry experience in human-centered data science design with Kaplan’s proprietary learning science and assessment insights. Data scientists have been called “a rare breed,” those who have “a brain for math, finesse with computers, the eyes of an artist and more.”* By flexibly culling valuable insights from often disparate sources, they are changing the way that businesses work with data on a grand scale. By 2018, there will be almost 500,000 new jobs in data science, with a projected shortage of up to 190,000 qualified data scientists**.

The Metis data science course will provide students with the skills to derive insight from data, as well as experience in the process of choosing the right analytical tools and data sources for the question, and communicating outcomes to maximize the transfer of insight to key stakeholders. The program is designed to train-by-doing, and will use the iterative data science design process to cover machine learning algorithms, SQL and NoSQL databases, python programming language and packages, Bayesian modeling, and visualization tools and techniques, and many other topics.

Metis’ product design bootcamp will be taught by thoughtbot, the premier web and mobile design consulting firm that serves as Metis’ current partner for its ongoing Ruby on Rails bootcamps in Boston and New York. Metis’ product design Bootcamp is 12 weeks of intensive on-site instruction through building digital products. For graphic and web designers looking to get into the full-stack of product design and development, the Metis bootcamp provides the opportunity to get hands on experience at every level of digital products. The course covers front-end web designing skills to build what students design, researching solutions and prototypes through fieldwork, and measuring the outcomes of their products to improve them. Post-graduation, successful students will be prepared for roles as a UX, UI, or product designer.

A Forrester research report on “The State of Digital Experience Delivery, 2014” shows that 58% of technology, marketing and business decision-makers surveyed cited a shortage of workers with the appropriate skill sets as one of their biggest pain points when it comes to roles for digital experience projects. At the top of the list of lacking skills were “user experience” (UX) and “big data,” with nearly half of respondents picking either UX designers/developers or data experts/scientists as the most difficult tech-centric role to hire.

“As our world becomes increasingly digital, today’s workforce demands talent with the ability to apply relevant technology skills, particularly in certain roles. Right now that demand is outpacing supply, which makes it a great time for those aspiring to work in data science and product design,” said Bernardo Rodriguez, co-founder of Metis. “By combining Kaplan’s experience in immersive, outcomes-based learning with the data science expertise of Datascope Analytics and the product design expertise of thoughtbot, we can help train top talent for hire and help companies get the talent they need.”

Under the competitive admissions process, select applicants will sit for an interview that will entail problem-solving questions. No more than 20 applicants will be accepted for each bootcamp. Both bootcamps will culminate in the fall with a Career Day, which will connect Metis graduates with potential employers.

Metis offers a $2,000 scholarship for women, underrepresented minority groups, and veterans or members of the U.S. military. Metis has also partnered with Upstart, a firm that provides individuals with access to funding for career advancement in exchange for a percentage of their future earnings.

To learn more about the New York bootcamps, visit http://www.thisismetis.com/new-bootcamps. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Metis currently runs bootcamps for aspiring Ruby on Rails web developers in Boston and New York City. Metis’s inaugural Ruby bootcamp, introduced in Boston, recently concluded with a successful Career Day which featured more than 20 prospective employers; a second cohort of Boston-based Ruby students began June 2. Metis’s New York-based Ruby on Rails bootcamp begins June 16.

Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a leading international provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools, and businesses. Kaplan serves students of all ages through a wide array of offerings including higher education, test preparation, professional training, and programs for kids in grades K through 12. With nearly 400 locations in more than 30 countries, Kaplan serves more than one million students each year. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. In 2013, Kaplan reported $2.2 billion in revenue.

About thoughtbo

thoughtbot (thoughtbot.com) is a world-class consulting firm that makes web and mobile apps for early-stage startups and other organizations. Established in 2003, their consulting team consists of 85 designers, web developers, and mobile developers in Austin, Boston, San Francisco, Stockholm, Denver, Philadelphia, Raleigh, and New York City.

About Datascope

Datascope (datasco.pe) is an elite data science firm that helps clients across industries achieve breakthroughs in data by designing and building analytical tools that solve their business problems. Founded in 2009, Datascope is headquartered in Chicago, IL.